Saint Mitrofan of Voronezh

The year 2003 marked the repose of Saint Mitrofan of Voronezh, one of Russia's most illustrious hierarchs. His life holds an important lesson for us today, teaching us to stand up for the truth and to defend the principles and practices of our holy Orthodox Faith, even when that means opposing our friends or people of rank or authority.

Saint Mitrofan was born in 1627 in a religious family. He married and had a son. When he was 39 his wife died and he entered the Zolotnikov monastery, where he was soon made a priest. Within three years the monks of the nearby Yakhromsk monastery chose him to be their abbot. His wise rule came to the attention of Patriarch Joachim, who entrusted him with the guidance of the much larger Kostroma monastery near Moscow. Finally, on April 2,1682, he was consecrated bishop of the newly-established diocese of Voronezh.

Located along the Don River some distance from Moscow, the diocese encompassed a vast area whose very remoteness attracted fiercely independent and unruly characters. It was seldom visited by its ruling hierarchs, and even the clergy had developed an attitude of doing as they pleased. With a firm hand, the new bishop set to work to bring order to his diocese. He established monasteries, battled against superstition, preached tirelessly, and took particular care for the welfare of family life among his flock. His episcopal residence was a haven for the needy, for wandering pilgrims, and for the homeless. He himself lived very simply, and was never idle. At his summer dacha he liked to work in the fields. He recommended to people of all ranks: "Labor willingly and preserve moderation, and you will be rich; be temperate in drink and eat little, and you will be healthy; do good and flee from evil, and you will be saved!"

At the time the young Tsar Peter I had some wharves constructed in Voronezh for his fleet. He developed a close friendship with the already aged bishop. Saint Mitrofan explained to his flock the necessity of Peter's generally unpopular reforms and on occasion he even assisted the Tsar financially. He taught his flock to be kind towards foreigners, many whom had come to help with the ship building and other ventures introducing Western technology. The bishop appreciated the usefulness of their knowledge, although he cautioned against undue familiarity, fearing the influence of their loose morals.

The friendship between tsar and hierarch was put to the test when, one day in 1700, the Tsar invited Saint Mitrofan to his palace. Arriving on foot, the Saint was appalled to see statues of naked pagan gods at the entrance. He immediately turned heel and returned home. This infuriated the Tsar and, hot with temper, he threatened the bishop with death for having defied his will. "To live for me is Christ, and to die is gain," replied the Saint calmly to the Tsar's messenger. He asked that the bell be rung for the All-night Vigil, that he might worthily prepare himself for death. His strength of conviction so impressed the Tsar that the latter ordered the statues removed at once, and sent to reassure the hierarch, who came the next day to the palace. One has to know the Tsar's strong character to appreciate his great respect for Saint Mitrofan, so dramatically illustrated by this incident.

When the Saint was dying, the Tsar quickened his trip to Voronezh, arriving on the very day of the Saint's repose, 23 November 1703. After bearing the coffin to the grave, the Tsar said to his entourage, "Never will I have another such holy elder." Miracles attributable to the intercession of Saint Mitrofan, and the discovery, in 1831, of his incorrupt relics, led to his official glorification on 6 August 1832. Holy Saint Mitrofan, pray to God for us!

Translated and adapted from: Zhitiya Russkikh Sviatykh, compiled by Nun Taisia, Jordanville, New York 1984